Maurizio Arrivabene has said that supplying engines to rivals Red Bull would not be an issue for Ferrari.

With Mercedes looking less likely to provide its rival with a power unit with which it could seriously raise its game, Red Bull is having to consider returning to Ferrari, whose engines it used for one season in 2006.

Speaking at the weekend, Lewis Hamilton admitted concern at the prospect of Mercedes supplying Red Bull with engines.

"I think if we're serious about winning world championships, probably not," he replied, when asked if such a move would be a good idea.

"Red Bull is a great team and it's like giving Ferrari our engine," he told reporters. "We're here to win so we don't really need it. There's no financial benefit really in it, so I think we're good where we are."

However, at Ferrari, Arrivabene has no such qualms.

"It is very difficult to talk about other people," said the Italian, according to Motorsport.com. "In theory they have big names, with Newey as chief designer and it is easy to think that if you give them the engine they will build a scary chassis, which means they will be really competitive.

"Concerning my team, my engineers and aerodynamicists know their own jobs and for that reason I don't have a problem. Competition is nice when you have a stronger competitor."

However, he subsequently admitted: "This doesn't mean tomorrow morning we will give our engines to Red Bull or Toro Rosso."